Louisiana News

Today, HB 199, which is the first of a package of bills to streamline the state’s sales tax system, cleared another hurtle, passing through the Louisiana Senate. Authored by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, HB 199 seeks to streamline the state’s outdated sales tax collection system, in the hope of bringing Louisiana closer to practices seen in other states throughout the country.

From Abbeville to Zwolle, Louisianians have been protected for a decade, thanks to smoke alarm protection measures first put in place statewide in 2011. That year, Louisiana required all existing one- and two-family dwellings to contain, at a minimum, one operable 10-year sealed battery smoke alarm at the time of lease or sale. Since then, countless lives have been saved from the dangers of smoke and fire, as other states have followed suit with similar legislation and code adoption.

The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a

* Flash Flood Watch for portions of Arkansas...Louisiana and Texas,
including the following areas, in Arkansas, Columbia, Lafayette,
Miller and Union. In Louisiana, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo,
Caldwell, Claiborne, De Soto, Grant, Jackson, La Salle, Lincoln,
Natchitoches, Ouachita, Red River, Sabine, Union, Webster and
Winn. In Texas, Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Franklin,
Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Red River,

Survivors of hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta and the winter storms could be eligible for rental assistance for temporary housing through FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program. FEMA pays rent, including a security deposit, at a place other than your damaged home.

Your rental can be a house, apartment or hotel that can keep you near your job, home, school and place of worship. The assistance includes essential utilities such as electricity and water but not cable or Internet.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting additional progress in reducing severe maternal morbidity among birthing persons who experience hemorrhage and severe hypertension in facilities that are part of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative (LaPQC). The LaPQC’s final report on Reducing Maternal Morbidity, issued today, shows that severe maternal morbidity among hemorrhage was reduced by nearly 35% and severe maternal morbidity among hypertension was reduced by almost 12%.

Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Investigators are currently attempting to locate a missing person.

Alex Issac, age 21, was last seen in the Town & Country area of Monroe on April 26, 2021. He is described as a Black male, 6’ tall and 150 lbs. Anyone with any information as to the whereabouts of Alex Issac is asked to contact the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-329-1200.